ASSEMBLING ALL SORTS

Parametric digital design tools and computer- aided manufacturing have enabled a non- uniform, curvilinear
and mass-customized architecture. While this conceptual plasticity of the first digital turn has relieved architects of the monotony of the mass-produced detail, the apparent freedom of digitally fabricated architecture still remains bound to industrially produced, standardized components (blanks, bars, bricks and sheet stock) or isotropic plastics (3D printing, themoforming). Designs are generated in a digital world of infinite possibility, and are wastefully materialized into a world constrained by the 4x8 sheet.

The assimilation of digital information and material properties (made possible by algorithmic design and robotic fabrication) has the potential to increase resource efficiency, while enriching the tactile, visual and performative aspects of architecture through the controlled application of material variation. In practice, however, this “digital materiality” is often limited to components which are dimensionally uniform and selectively
obtained—the uninformed brick3 or grain of sand4 already bear some resemblance to the pixel.

This seminar will focus on creating details and assembly techniques which derive their non uniformity, in part, from irregular, “found” building materials. We will develop strategies for digitizing such materials, and methods of programming which allow for these digitized properties to be incorporated into the design. The course will involve the creation of digital and physical study models, and the development of a prototypical robotic assembly technique using the school’s UR3 robot.
Course size is limited, and previous exposure to Grasshopper and/or some programming (Java/Python, etc) will be helpful for students.